causative

[ kaw-zuh-tiv ]

adjective

1. acting as a cause; producing (often followed by of ):

   a causative agency; an event causative of war.

2. Grammar. noting causation. The causative form of to fall is to fell. Gothic -jan is a causative suffix in fulljan “to cause to be full; to fill.”

noun

1. Grammar. a word, especially a verb, noting causation, as made in He made me eat the apple.

causative

/ ˈkɔːzətɪv /

adjective

1. grammar relating to a form or class of verbs, such as persuade, that express causation
2. often postpositiveand foll byof producing an effect

noun

1. the causative form or class of verbs

Derived Forms

• ˈcausatively, adverb
• ˈcausativeness, noun

Other Words From

• causa·tive·ly adverb
• causa·tive·ness causa·tivi·ty noun
• inter·causa·tive adjective
• non·causa·tive adjective
• non·causa·tive·ly adverb
• non·causa·tive·ness noun
• un·causa·tive adjective
• un·causa·tive·ly adverb
• un·causa·tive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of causative¹

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin causātīvus, equivalent to causāt ( us ) caused ( causation ) + -īvus -ive

Example Sentences

Burkholderia pseudomallei is a Gram-negative aerobic bacteria, and it's the causative agent of melioidosis.

From Ars Technica

However, the review also noted that more research should be done to better understand and identify any potential causative effects, as screens are not likely to go away anytime soon.

From Popular-Science

The time in front of a device or screen was self-reported, and none of these studies are able to draw any causative conclusions.

From Popular-Science

Whatever the causative sequence, there is no fountain of youth.

From Nautilus

Then we dug into those responses and looked for the causative factor.

From Time

To what degree these things are directly causative no one can say.

From Project Gutenberg

There are other infective diseases, in which we have not yet found the causative micro-organism, but we presume its existence.

From Project Gutenberg

There is always a causative shock or injury, which is followed at once or after an interval by the symptoms of neurasthenia.

From Project Gutenberg

Drench is the causative of drink: here the nominative of the verb is ‘Iris’ and the object ‘beds.’

From Project Gutenberg

The causative act is—a spiritual and transcendent Mystery, that passeth all understanding.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• creative
• imaginative
• innovative
• inventive
• seminal
• unconventional
• unusual